Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden
Photo: Birka Cruises
Get that sunny feeling Several years of supplying solar simulators to the automotive industry made Suntech’s founder Ingemar Nilsson think that more people should have the opportunity to enjoy the unique experience they offer. And, after watching a Swedish game show give away trips to Mauritius, he decided to bring Mauritius to Sweden. By Sara Wenkel | Photos: Suntech
Care homes, spas and adventure pools are just a few of Suntech’s current clients. Today, their specially developed sunlight simulators and environments exist in over 250 facilities across 11 countries. “We provide a safe solar experience with light and heat, which improves wellbeing and promotes relaxation and new energy,” says Suntech CEO Inge Lojander.
A technology from the automotive industry Suntech’s technology for sunlight simulation evolved from procedures for testing various systems and materials in the automotive industry in the late 1980s. 46 | Issue 114 | July 2018
Suntech’s founder had been asked to develop this expertise for the Swedish car brands SAAB and Volvo. “We have used the technology to test the tolerance of various materials to heat and sunlight in desert-like conditions,” explains Lojander. Suntech continues to provide this technology for several automotive brands today.
A safe way to experience the benefits of sunlight Nilsson soon realised that this technology could be used in other contexts and began to investigate how he could bring it to a wider audience. “The vision was, and still is, to create a safe way to experience
all the amazing benefits from sunlight through our solar simulators. In cooperation with the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, a safe UV level was agreed and accepted and we were able to reduce the UV radiation to assure that the sunlight is at a controlled and harmless level,” Lojander says. The very first facility to try out Suntech’s product was a care home in the company’s hometown of Vänersborg. Suntech’s sunlight proved to have a very positive effect on the mood of the elderly. Staff also became healthier and had more energy to devote to their care work, and sick leave was significantly reduced as a result.
Recreating the whole solar spectrum Experiencing the sun is not only a question of light but also of heat. “We provide both energising light and delightful nour-